The North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) has released its preliminary 2026 football playoff brackets, setting the stage for postseason competition across eight classifications.
The playoffs begin Friday, Nov. 6, with teams competing for state championships scheduled for Dec. 10-12.
🔄 Last Updated: October 31, 2026 10:24 am
🏈 VIEW PRELIMINARY NCHSAA BRACKETS (Source: NCHSAA.org)
The NCHSAA released its initial playoff bracket document in the morning on Saturday, Oct. 31. Schools will have a chance to review the pairings and respond before the brackets become finalized.
Bracket matchups are subject to final confirmation. NC Football News will update its individual classification pages as the brackets are finalized.
2026 NCHSAA Football Playoff Brackets by Classification
Find first-round matchups, schedules and postseason results for each classification:
Class 1A Playoffs
Class 2A Playoffs
Class 3A Playoffs
Class 4A Playoffs
Class 5A Playoffs
Class 6A Playoffs
Class 7A Playoffs
Class 8A Playoffs
👉 Visit the NC Football News 2026 NCHSAA Playoff Center for the latest brackets, schedules and scores throughout the postseason.
Notable First-Round Matchups and Storylines
To be updated following the official bracket announcement.
2026 NCHSAA Football Playoff Schedule
- Nov. 6: First round
- Nov. 13: Second round
- Nov. 20: Third round
- Nov. 27: Fourth round / regional finals, depending on classification
- Dec. 4: Regional finals for remaining classifications
- Dec. 10-12: State championship games
